I am a veteran pollster and political pundit and author of "The Way We'll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream." I write a column for Forbes. Co-author (with Joan Snyder Kuhl) of the e-book -
First Globals: Understanding, Managing, and Unleashing Our Millennial Generation (Available Now) amzn.com/B00DE3N19W

Libertarian Leanings of Young Voters Dampen Obama's Appeal

Barack Obama delivers a speech at the University of Southern California (Video of the speech) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mitt Romney has spent months selling himself to the Republican base. Now, Barack Obama is working overtime trying to re-sell himself to his base of voters age 18-29.Team Obama knows that hard times and the growing libertarian leanings of young voters will make them a more difficult target than four years ago.

Just as there is no doubt Romney will easily carry reluctant Tea Partiers and social conservatives, Obama will again win the age cohort I call First Globals. But it seems unlikely he will again win 66% of their votes, or that they will equal their turnout of 2008, which matched the historic high set in 1972, the first year the voting age was lowered to 18. Four years ago, First Globals made up 18% of all voters. In 2010, that fell to 12%.

Very few of Obama’s young supporters from 2008 are likely defect to Romney. Some may not vote, and I see the possibility of others abandoning both parties and instead choosing the Libertarian candidate.

My most recent polling with JZ Analytics found Obama’s approval rating among the 18-29 group in the high 50 percentile, up from where it had been a few months earlier. Approval rating is a good indicator of whether voters will support an incumbent, so you can see Obama is behind where he needs to be among younger voters. Obama’s youth vote problem is most acute among those 18-24 who entered the job market since he took office and are not finding work that meets their expectations.

Last week, Harvard’s Institute of Politics released an online study of more than 3,000 U.S. adults ages 18-29. This exhaustive look at the policy priorities of First Globals finds the economy and jobs are far and away their highest concern. That data point and others show why support for Obama has slipped since 2008. They favor Obama over Romney, 43%-26%. There is an 11-point difference in Obama’s margin between those 25-29 (23 points) and those 18-24 (12 points.) Congressional Democrats have a higher approval than Republicans, 39%-25%.

However, on some key issues, majorities of First Globals are not doctrinaire liberals. The poll found less than majorities agree with liberals on some of their most cherished beliefs. For example: 44% agree health insurance is a right government should provide for those who can’t afford it, 43% agree with the same statement about food and shelter, 37% agree government should spend more to reduce poverty, 20% agree government spending is an effective way to economic growth and 28% agree government should do more to curb climate change even at the expense of economic growth. (That last number has to hurt environmentalists.)

Lest Republicans get too giddy at those findings, they should also know less than majorities agree with these conservative and neo-con ideals: 22% agree it’s sometimes necessary to attack potentially hostile countries rather than waiting until we are attacked, 23% are willing to give up some personal freedoms for the sake of national security, 39% agree cutting taxes is an effective route to economic growth, 24% agree we should eliminate all barriers to trade, 25% agree recent immigration has done more harm than good, 21% agree religious values should play an important role in government and 25% agree homosexuality is morally wrong.

These attitudes betraying both the traditional left and right fall generally within the bounds of libertarianism. Live and let live. Individual responsibility is as important as collective responsibility. Avoid military interventions. Distrust both government and corporations. Protect civil liberties.

Young voters have been the energy behind Ron Paul (remember him?) He is still in the GOP race for President, apparently looking to impact the party platform. Had Paul chosen to be the nominee of the national Libertarian Party, he would have had the biggest impact of any third party candidate since Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996. Libertarians meet this week to choose their Presidential ticket. Gary E. Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, who briefly ran for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, is the most likely nominee. He wants to legalize marijuana, and that is what the media will likely most focus on. Johnson expects to be on the ballot in all 50 states. That will be his chief resource. I don’t expect the debate commission will give him a chair alongside Obama and Romney. But the I

nternet will give him access to the many First Globals who aren’t keen about either major party choice.

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My husband and I (both 20 somethings) will be voting for Ron Paul in the upcoming election. Romney and Obama can campaign until they are blue in the face, but we have seen and heard enough to know better than to vote for either of them.

It is reported that today California is using Brazil sugar cane ethanol at $0.16 per gal increase over using GMO corn fuel ethanol. In this game the cars and trucks get to pay and Big oil profits are the result that may be ready for change.

We do NOT support AB 523 or SB 1396 unless the ethanol mandate is changed to voluntary ethanol in our gas.

Folks that pay more at the pump for less from Cars, trucks, food, water & air need better, it is time.

The car tax of AB 118 Nunez is just a simple Big oil welfare program, AAA questioned the policy and some folks still agree.

Us libertarians will not “get Obama re-elected” anymore than we’ll get “Romney elected”. Now that the neoconservatives have so ruined the Repuiblican party, libertarianism is much, much different than what mainstream gop is all about. As a result libertarinism hurts Obama and Romney equally.

We want civil liberties defended at all costs – Neither Obama OR Romney will do that. We want constitutionally declared wars – Neither Obama OR Romney offer that. We want an intellectually honest President – Neither Obama or Romney offer that. We reject any form of government bailouts – Obama and Romney support bailouts. We want government power reduced dramatically – Neither will do that.

So, perhaps one can explain to me how either candidate was ever going to have my vote?

Neither one Obama or Romney will get our votes!!! Ron Paul is the only one that will do what needs to be done clean house of all corruption media too your fired only the ones of truth will be allowed!!!

Ron Paul is not out! He has the heart, mind and soul of the young people, at least at all the rallies across the nation. I have been to two of them. It is like nothing else. Do yourselves a favor and get to one. I met more people who were not convinced until they went and heard him live. If people quit getting the diet of news from the Mainstream Media and branch out and try truly independent news sources they will find a shift in their thinking. We have all been on the corporate backed news channels far too long. It is propaganda folks. Go Ron Paul 2012. Google him and go to his official website. There you will find a section called issues. If you read them you might find you are closed to his ideologies than you think.

I would like to point out that it isn’t JUST the youth behind Dr. Paul. Many of our older generation remember what Liberty is and do support Dr. Paul. Wee middle aged are often suckered by the neocons, but many of us are not, and we support Dr. Paul.

Furthermore, I am really getting tired of hearing it is going to be Romney. That has NOT been resolved yet, and if the media would actually do their job, they would know that as of right now, Dr. Paul pretty much has 9 states in his pocket already!

Interesting piece, except for your attempts to lead and mislead your readers…

“Just as there is no doubt Romney will easily carry reluctant Tea Partiers and social conservatives” –> Please. Anybody who’s anybody has seen which employees of which corrupt bailed-out bank has funded his 2012 campaign, just as they funded Obama’s 2008 bid. As if that weren’t reason enough to rule him out, the Godfather of the Tea Party is still out there winning delegates and making Romney look silly even in his home state. “there is no doubt” is 100% wrong.

“Obama will again win the age cohort I call First Globals” –> Not if they understand what is happening, he won’t. The information control battle is a crucial one, but more and more voters every day understand that not voting for the True Peace Candidate in Doctor Ron Paul at this stage, whether one considers the Republican Party vile or not, is just another vote for perpetual war. Obama in yesterday’s news committed an American troop presence in Afghanistan until 2024. 2024! This is not your Hope and Change candidate anymore, people, and to tell the truth, he never was. You..got..duped.

“Young voters have been the energy behind Ron Paul (remember him?) He is still in the GOP race for President, apparently looking to impact the party platform.” –> Presentation poor, word choice deliberate. Remember him? This guy is a hero who routinely votes, alone, against pieces of legislation on principle because our country’s rulebook, the Constitution, doesn’t allow for it. If anyone doesn’t remember him, shame on them; he is the only one in the Gang of 535 who is following his sworn oath. More importantly, he is in this race to win it. I know of NO Paul voters who would EVER be swayed to vote for Romney nor Obama, as they see no difference between PerpetualWarmongeringTyrantNeoConMan1 and PerpetualWarmongeringDictatorNeoConMan2; the sheer brilliance of these young people, one of whom I am not, to be able to understand at their young ages that politicians are not to be trusted unless they have proven themselves worthy of that trust over a lengthy period, the brilliance of these young people should not be underestimated. The Peace Doctor Ron Paul for President movement is indeed in great hands; when we achieve a brokered convention, journalists will no longer be poker-faced. Trust me.

This whole article is a bunch of misleading BS and an attempt to present a totally wrong impression to the public. It could as well be called “Endorsing Mitt Romney, now as a libertarian, too” (which he definitely is not).

The exclusive credit should be given to Ron Paul, as the only libertarian in the race. Mitt Romney is mostly the opposite, another random pro-big-government warmonger taking care of his lobbyist friends with no principles at all and a flip-flopper attitude. But no, he gets endorsed, while Mr. libertarian himself, Ron Paul, get’s a “Remember him?” note, after boldly trying to associate Mitt Romney with libertarianism. These “journalists” deserve a kick up the arse.

Ron Paul is doing great and his supporters will vote for him even if they have to write him in.

Obama has lost favor with the youth and independents because he has been exposed. The first time around, without fighting any real revolution, he was made a cultural icon on par with Che Guevara. A generation that is infatuated with celebrity found a celebrity to fawn over. Obama spoke with an oratory reminiscent of Dr. King but without the power. He peddled hope but had no substance. Many of the twenty-somethings realized they were duped. They bought the sizzle and now they realize that they desire the steak. I don’t agree with the author of this article. I’m not convinced that the tea party believes that Romney is the steak. This election appears to be another achievement to Romney rather than a duty. Romney’s platform is void of many high-minded ideals. Whether a person is attracted to Paul the person or not, his platform of freedom and responsibility, and his plan to return some of those ideals back to the people is powerful stuff.

This article is a pathetic attempt to associate Mitt Romney with a young, libertarian voter base.

Since when is Mitt Romney the prime example of a libertarian? He’s mostly the opposite – and definitely for big government, deficit spending, regulation, reduction of civil liberties, and the same flawed, expensive foreign policy. He could as well be Obama by what he advocates. But as he’s a serial flip-flopper, I would not take even that for granted.

You should really give Ron Paul the clear credit he deserves when it comes to representing libertarians. And by this I do not mean, including a “Remember him?” note and the end of an article centered around Mitt Romney.

Ron Paul is the only libertarian in the race, and the libertarian voter will certainly support him and not Mitt Romney, no matter how misleading the media reports will become. Since ignoring Ron Paul did not work, now they try to act as if the young libertarians were supporting Mitt Romney. Pathetic.

“Apparently looking to impact the party platform…”. How about “trying to BECOME PRESIDENT” for gods sake?

And don’t bother talking about his mathematical chances of winning or loosing – I can do the math myself. And the game is far from decided, in spite of all presumtuous reports in favour of Mitt Romney.

Ron Paul’s speeches are attended by several thousand people – even outdoors in rain. How about reporting on that? The last crowd that Mitt Romney drew had like 100 People.

Obama has nothing to offer young folks. More wars, more dead children, more invasions of civil liberties, more drug raids, and sustained high unemployment are the legacy of his first (and hopefully last) term. I’m not sure who I’ll vote for this coming election, if I vote at all, but it sure as hell won’t be Obama.

“22% agree it’s sometimes necessary to attack potentially hostile countries rather than waiting until we are attacked, 23% are willing to give up some personal freedoms for the sake of national security”

Drone attacks in pakistan have at least doubled under Obama.

Clinton sanctions on Iraq for WMD and bombing in 1998.

Arguments for making war in Libya would fit Iraq and afghanistan (both had dictators, and resistance movements, northern alliance in afghanistan for example)

Recent news has cyber attacks on Iran and all across arab world said to be work of US government/obama in new york times. (Flame virus)

Try to see world from other side… suppose china was providing subs to iran for launching nuke missiles (rather than germany for isreal), and china and Iran teamed up to do massive cyber attack on US industry and iran with suspected help of china was busy assasinating US scientists… would that make US less likely to want nukes or bio weapons? – in 50 years almost every country in middle east will probably have easy time making nuclear or just as deadly bio weapons, even with cyber attacks and scientists killed. (Things get easier every year)

Funny to call something the side of one party when both parties do fairly similar foreign policy.

As someone who is in that group of first global voters, the primary things that make me more libertarian than anything are fiscal responsibility and civil liberty. The left is not attractive because of the belief that redistribution of wealth is somehow ok. The government did not put me through college nor did they take the exams that provided me with grades to be accepted into a graduate program. The fruits of that hard work are making over 100k a year, so I oppose taxing me to oblivion to pay for people who lack the skill or the drive i possess.

As for why the right is not attractive, its about freedom. The social conservative movement in this country is about legislating from the pulpit. The founding fathers of this nation were deists, not evangelicals. The writings of Jefferson and Franklin clearly illustrate this, they definitely did not believe that “the pursuit of happiness is doing what you are supposed to do” as espoused by Senator Santorum. You cannot be a member of the social conservative movement and also defend the constitution. Much of what is being put out by the right maligns any view not consistent with their views as either being treason or un-patriotic.

This is why many like will vote libertarian. Many will say that the vote doesn’t matter or that a vote for Gary Johnson is a vote for Obama, but i won’t vote for a man who wants to steal my money to give it to someone on welfare nor will i vote for a venture capitalist who doesn’t have a clear cut position unless its already written for him by someone else. This election is about protecting freedom, the only person other than a libertarian who did that was Ron Paul, a shame the right didn’t have the sense to put him on the ballot.